The Colors of Havana

How can I not be inspired by the colors of Havana? Truthfully, it’s not only the colors but also the whole soul of this city stuck in a time warp that seeps inspiration from all its pores.

Havana is one of my favorite cities of all time! Ironically, its beauty lies in the decaying architecture and faded facades. Its audacity to have withstood the test of time with very little help from anyone is also a very inspiring concept. Havana is a traveler’s playground, a photographer’s dream and an interior designer’s everything. I’m unabashedly in love with Havana – there I said it.

I often daydream of owning just a small piece (preferably by the beach) of this enchanting city but until then I’ll have to content myself by creating mood boards inspired by memories of our travels.

At first glance, this design might seem much more vibrant than the featured image but let me explain the reasons why I chose these furnishings:

01. The colors, less muted than the buildings, are a metaphor to describe the vibe of the city itself.

02. The chandelier is a wink to Havana’s resilience – vintage with a bad-ass edge.

03. The curves of the rattan bench – ornate yet simple – mimic the arches decorating the facades of the buildings.

04. The parakeet – eyes full of wisdom yet playful – is essentially Caribbean just like Cuba.

05. The lines of the dresser are reminiscent of some of the furniture I saw in casas particulares (private homes) dating back to the 1950’s. Painted in a whimsical blue gives it a more updated yet classical look.

And, lastly, since I always like to add an ethnic touch to my designs:

06. The colorful pillows and the rug recall the many backgrounds – African being one of them – of the resilient Cubanos.

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Have you ever been inspired to design a room (or create something) based on a city you visited?